Chain.



PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

W. T. JAMES.

CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED BEPT.4.19Q6.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

lap

No. 856,529. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907. W. T. JAMES.

CHAIN.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 4. 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR UNITED STATES WILLIAM T. JAMES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed September 4, 1906. Serial No- 333,038.

To albwh'om/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. JAMES, a

- citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chains, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to chains, and especially to that type known as conveyer chains, and has for its objects to provide an improved chain of inexpensive construction having an antifriction joint; to provide a chain having a pivot joint in which the bearing surfaces sh all be very hard and dense and yet which shall be so constructed as to avoid brittleness and possess a maximum toughness; to provide a chain with a hardened bearing edge so constructed that slipping and impact tending to destroy the edge is avoided and to provide a chain in which the pivoting surfaces are inclosed and protected from injury and dirt. These and other objects are accomplished by my invention one form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

-. Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of chain.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the chain of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section. through Figure 1 on the line 111111,

Figure 4 is a plan view of a single link of another form of chain,

. Figure 5 is a side elevation of the upper side member shown in Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the lower side member shown in Figure 4-,

Figure 7 is a plan view of a section of chain composed of the links as shown in Figure 4, and

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the chain of Figure 7.

Referring first to the form of chain as shown inFigures 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that each of the links is composed of two opposing side members 11, which side members are spread apart at the ends 22 and at the other ends 33 are securedtogether by the shield 4 (Figure 3), which shield extends about the pivot points of the links and serves the double function of a connecting or tie member and of a protector for preventing injury to the pivot members and excluding dirt. Securely riveted to the ends 2, 2 is the pivot block 5 which block is made circular in general cross section and. has a V shaped bearing recess 5 extending throughout its length. The inside ends 3 are provided with clearance spaces 6 to permit of the oscillation of the pivot block 5 when the chain passes over its sprocket and a knife edge bearing block 7 is provided at the side of the clearance space 6, which block is riveted securely in the ends 3, 3 and coacts with the V shaped bearing recess in the pivot block 5. It will be seen that the knife edge pivoting provides an antii'rictionjoint, and that as the knife edge on the bearing block 7 engages a V shaped recess on the bearing block 5 there is no danger of any lateral slipping between the engaging surface, which slipping and the jar incident thereto ordinarily rapidly reduces the limited bearing surfaces, This is especially important in the case of hardened bearing points for the reason that such points are apt to be more brittle and the slipping and the tends to break off the pivotal edges. It will also be noted that the amount of bending at the pivot may be regulated by the difference in angle between the recess in the pivot block 5 and that of the projection of bearing block 7, as the flat surfaces of such recess and projection will contact when the two parts attain their maxi mum angles to each other. The links are also provided intermediate their ends with rollers 9 which are designed primarily to engage the teeth of the driving sprocket thereby removing the driving strain and wear incident to the engagement of the pivotal parts of the chain with the teeth of the sprocket. These rollers not only serve this purpose but also decrease the resistance of the chain when dragged along-a guide or other sup orting surface, as by means of such rollers tlie slid.- in friction is obviated and rolling friction substituted therefor.

A modified form of chain is shown in Figures 4 to 8 which chain while resembling the one of Figures 1 to 3 in a certain extent as far as the pivot bearing is concerned is different therefrom in that the pivot block and the bearing block are both carried by, and integral with one of the side members of the chain, and that the bearing block is hollow and adapted to receive the pivot block of a succeeding link. Referring first to Figures 4 to 6 it will be noted that each link is composed of two side members 10 and 11, the member 10 carrying integral therewith the pivot block 12 and the bearing block 13, while the member 11 is simply a flat section bent outward at one end as indicated in the at its bearing side a recess 15 corresponding to the V shaped recess in the pivot block 5 of Figures 1, 2, and 3, but less acute. This pivot block 12 is provided at its centralbearing portion with an insert 1.6 of hardened. material adapted to bear against the pivot point of the bearing block 13. The side member 11 is secured to the pivot block 12 by means of a cotter passing through the hole 17 in the end of the pivot block. The bearing block 13 is, as indicated in Figures 4 and 5, hollow with aspace 1.3 sufficiently large to provide clearance for a bearingblook member provided at one end: with a. pivot similar to 12 which it is adapted to. receive and such bearing block has at its forwardendi a projection 18 provided, with. an insert 19 for engaging the insert 1 6 on the pivot block. 12. By thus providing a hollow bearingblock receiving the pivot block, the pivot bearing is completely inclosed thereby protecting it from all chance of injury and from.

dust and dirt. As shown, the bearingblock 13 is provided with a shoulder 20 for engaging against the side of the member 11- thereby spacing such side member 11 a fixed distance 'pair of side members and a pivotbloek; nig idly secured to. one member and removably from the side member 10. The side member 11 is provided at oneend with an'opening; 21-

of a size to exactly fit the pivot block 12, andv the other end is provided with an opening22 of suflicient size to exactly fit the end of the bearing block 13. inserts 16 and 19 of the pivot block and bearing block respectively is advantageous prising side members and a: bearing member havin a recessed ortloni I'OVldBd with a.

in that it prevents a too rapid wearing away of the restricted bearing surface and these bearing inserts are protected from the damage usually incident to hard brittle bearing surfaces because of their insertion in the body of the metal of the blocks, which. loca tion stiffens and supports the hard. and brit- 5 prising sidemembers and a bearing member tions of the broad idea involved are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. by modifying the style of inserts and also'by modifying the degree ofthe angle of the reangle of the projection on the bearing block, it being only necessary that such parts be so arranged that there is no possibility of sidewise slipping when lateral pull is applied to the chain.

The use of thehardened The bearing surfaces may be changed.

Changes along these lines and others apparent to those-skilled in the art are comprehended by my invention and are intended to be covered by the claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to'secure by Letters Patent, is the foli lowing:

thereof, and; a second link. comprisingside members and? a bearing member having-a V! shaped projection forengaging theeV shaped recessin the first bearing member, the angle of the projection beingmorezacute than. that of. the recess and the recess. of. such. depth that the sides thereof constitute a stop'for limiting the relative rotative movement: ot

the links.

2. In combination, a link comprisingai side block and at the other end with a hollow bearing block, and a second side" member adapted toengage the pivot blockandibe'aring block.

3. In combination, a link comprisingaside member having. rigidly secured: to; one: end; a

pivot block and to the other end: ahollow bearingblock, and. a second sidemember adapted, to engage the pivot block and; bean- 'ing' block.

4.. In combination, a link comprising" a.

secured to the othermember, and. a second link comprislng a pair of side membersand.

1 a hollow bearing, block adapted'to coaot with the pivot block secured rigidly to onememe her and removably to the other member.

5. In combination ina chain,.a.link; com.-

bearing insert, and a: second link; comprising :side members and a bearing-member having: an edgeprovidedwith a bearing msentfor en-' gagingthe insert in the first bearinggmemberz.

6. In combination in a chain, a link com.-

having a V shaped recess longitudinal thereofprovided. at theapex withza bearing-insert and a second link comprising; side members subscribed. witnesses. cess in the pivot block and the degree of the WVILLIAM T; J 

